System and method for redeeming ticket vouchers

ABSTRACT

A system and method that provide non-cash avenues to redeem a ticket voucher associated with an amount of funds.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/343,308, filed on Jun.9, 2021, which is a continuation of, claims the benefit of and priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/579,178, filed on Sep. 23, 2019,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field of the present disclosure is that of systems andmethods that enable a user to redeem a ticket voucher associated with anamount of funds for one or more non-cash forms of payment.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines may provide players awards in primary games. Gamingmachines generally require the player to place a wager to activate theprimary game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winningsymbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager. When aplayer cashes out a credit balance of such gaming machines, these gamingmachines may provide the player with a ticket voucher redeemable for theamount of the credit balance.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor, upon an occurrence of aticket voucher redemption event, the instructions cause the processor todetermine a first amount of funds associated with a ticket voucher. Whenexecuted by the processor responsive to receipt of data associated withan input of a non-cash redemption of the ticket voucher, theinstructions cause the processor to determine, based on the first amountof funds associated with the ticket voucher, a second amount of funds toprovide in association with a non-cash form of payment, and cause thesecond amount of funds to be available in association with the non-cashform of payment.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor, upon an occurrence of aticket voucher redemption event associated with a ticket voucher andresponsive to a determination of an identity of a user associated withthe ticket voucher, the instructions cause the processor to determine ifthe identified user qualifies to redeem the ticket voucher for anon-cash form of payment, wherein the determination is based onhistorical ticket voucher redemption activity of the identified user.When executed by the processor responsive to the determination beingthat the identified user qualifies to redeem the ticket voucher for thenon-cash form of payment, the instructions cause the processor todetermine a first amount of funds to provide in association with anon-cash form of payment. When executed by the processor responsive tothe determination being that the identified user fails to qualify toredeem the ticket voucher for the non-cash form of payment, theinstructions cause the processor to determine a second amount of fundsto provide in association with a cash payment.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method ofoperating a system including, upon an occurrence of a ticket voucherredemption event, determining, by a processor, a first amount of fundsassociated with a ticket voucher. Responsive to receipt of an inputassociated with a non-cash redemption of the ticket voucher, the methodincludes determining, by the processor and based on the first amount offunds associated with the ticket voucher, a second amount of funds toprovide in association with a non-cash form of payment, and causing thesecond amount of funds to be available in association with the non-cashform of payment.

Additional features are described herein, and will be apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the interactions between a ticketvoucher system, a gaming establishment patron management system and abanking network interface in association with converting a ticketvoucher to a pre-paid debit card.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the interactions between a ticketvoucher system, a gaming establishment patron management system and abanking network interface in association with converting a ticketvoucher to an original credit transaction.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are example graphical user interfaces displayed bya ticket voucher redemption kiosk in connection with redeeming a ticketvoucher in association with a non-cash form of payment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein providenon-cash avenues to redeem a ticket voucher associated with an amount offunds.

In certain embodiments, following a user procuring a ticket voucher(e.g., an anonymous bearer instrument redeemable for cash via a ticketvoucher redemption kiosk and/or game play on a gaming establishmentdevice such as an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”)), the system enablesthe user to redeem the ticket voucher for a non-cash form of payment.That is, in view of the various security concerns (e.g., protectinggaming establishment cash and protecting gaming establishment patronscarrying cash) and labor concerns (e.g., servicing ticket voucherredemption kiosks which dispense cash in exchange for ticket vouchers)associated with cash-based transactions, the system disclosed hereinprovides an alternative, non-cash-based option for a gamingestablishment patron to redeem a ticket voucher while complying withvarious anti-money laundering regulations which require the tracking ofcertain financial transactions associated with a gaming establishmentpatron. As such, to further expand the cashless ecosystem certain gamingestablishments strive for, the system disclosed herein enables a userthe opportunity to exchange a ticket voucher, in paper form or virtualform, for an amount of funds that are independent of any amount of cashand relatively more secure than an amount of cash.

In certain embodiments, the non-cash form of payment that the systemutilizes in association with the redemption of ticket vouchers includespre-paid cards, such as a pre-paid debit card associated with a balanceor a card associated with a pre-paid access account which, per currentregulations from the U.S. Treasury Department Financial CrimesEnforcement Network (“FinCEN”), cannot be convertible to cash and canonly be used for the purchase of goods and/or services. In theseembodiments, the system enables the user to redeem the ticket voucherfor a pre-paid card associated with the amount of funds of the redeemedticket voucher after accounting for any imposed fees. That is, ratherthan redeeming a ticket voucher at a ticket voucher redemption kiosk orgaming establishment interface, such as a casino desk, for an amount ofcash equal to an amount of funds associated with the redeemed ticketvoucher, the system enables a user to redeem a ticket voucher, in paperform or virtual form, at a ticket voucher redemption kiosk, a gamingestablishment interface or a mobile device running an applicationassociated with the gaming system, for, subject to any assessed fees, apre-paid card loaded with an amount of funds associated with theredeemed ticket voucher. Such a configuration frees the user up fromhaving to carry such an amount of cash on their person (and thusdiminishes the risks that such cash may be lost or stolen).

In certain embodiments, the non-cash form of payment that the systemutilizes in association with the redemption of ticket vouchers includesthe system creating an original credit transaction, such as a transferof funds to a credit card account which is independent of a refunding ofan amount of a purchase that was originally charged to the credit cardaccount. In these embodiments, following a user procuring a ticketvoucher, the system enables the user to redeem the ticket voucher inexchange for the system facilitating an original credit transaction(e.g., a Visa Direct™ transaction) for an amount of funds of theredeemed ticket voucher after accounting for any imposed fees. In otherwords, rather than redeeming a ticket voucher at a ticket voucherredemption kiosk or gaming establishment interface, such as a casinodesk, for an amount of cash equal to an amount of funds associated withthe redeemed ticket voucher, the system enables a user to utilize one ormore devices, such as an EGM, a ticket voucher redemption kiosk, agaming establishment interface or a mobile device running an applicationassociated with the gaming system, to redeem a ticket voucher, in paperform or virtual form, for, subject to any assessed fees, the creation ofan original credit transaction in an amount of funds associated with theredeemed ticket voucher. Such a configuration also frees the user upfrom having to carry such an amount of cash on their person (and thusdiminishes the risks that such cash may be lost or stolen).

It should be appreciated that in addition to potentially providing arelatively more secure environment for a user (via reducing oreliminating the need for the user to carry cash), the system disclosedherein further benefits the gaming establishment by freeing the gamingestablishment up from also having to carry relatively large amounts ofcash in ticket voucher redemption devices. That is, by reducing the useof such ticket voucher redemption devices, the system reduces the wearand tear on such devices thus prolonging the operational life on theseticket voucher redemption devices. Moreover, by reducing the amount ofcash transactions in a gaming establishment via utilizing the automatedissuance of pre-paid cards and/or the creation of original credittransactions, the system disclosed herein reduces or eliminates humanerrors which often occur when ticket vouchers are redeemed at gamingestablishment interfaces, such as casino desks. In other words,eliminating gaming establishment personnel from issuing amounts of cashin exchange for redeemed ticket vouchers not only protects the user (ifthe gaming establishment personnel provides the user less cash than theuser deserves for the redeemed ticket voucher) but also protects thegaming establishment (if the gaming establishment personnelinadvertently or fraudulently provides the user more cash than the userdeserves for the redeemed ticket voucher).

Redeeming Ticket Vouchers

In various embodiments, following a user obtaining one or more ticketvouchers, such as upon a user of an EGM cashing out a credit balance inexchange for a ticket voucher associated with an amount of funds of thecashed out credit balance, the system enables a user to redeem suchticket vouchers in exchange for a non-cash form of payment.

In one embodiment wherein the ticket voucher takes the form of a paperticket voucher, the user provides the paper ticket voucher to a ticketvoucher redemption kiosk. In this embodiment, upon receiving the paperticket voucher, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk (or a component of agaming establishment management system located inside the ticket voucherredemption kiosk (i.e., a component of the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk)) scans the paper ticket voucher to obtain identifying informationassociated with the presented paper ticket voucher. The ticket voucherredemption kiosk (or a component of a gaming establishment managementsystem located inside the ticket voucher redemption kiosk) then operateswith the ticket voucher system to determine whether to authorize theredemption of the paper ticket voucher. That is, as seen in FIGS. 1A and1B, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk 102 operates with the ticketvoucher system 104 to determine whether the paper ticket voucher is anauthentic paper ticket voucher currently associated with the amount offunds indicated by the presented paper ticket voucher. In other words,the system verifies that the presented paper ticket voucher is a validticket voucher which is authentic and has not been previously redeemedand/or voided by the ticket voucher system.

In another embodiment wherein the ticket voucher takes the form of apaper ticket voucher, the user utilizes a mobile device applicationbeing run on a mobile device to scan the paper ticket voucher, whereininformation regarding the scanned paper ticket voucher is communicatedfrom the mobile device to a ticket voucher redemption kiosk (asdescribed herein). In this embodiment, upon receiving the informationregarding the scanned paper ticket voucher from the mobile device, theticket voucher redemption kiosk (or a component of a gamingestablishment management system located inside the ticket voucherredemption kiosk (i.e., a component of the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk)) operates with the ticket voucher system to determine whether toauthorize the redemption of the paper ticket voucher by verifying thatthe paper ticket voucher is a valid ticket voucher which is authenticand has not been previously redeemed and/or voided by the ticket vouchersystem.

In one embodiment wherein the ticket voucher takes the form of a virtualticket voucher, to redeem the virtual ticket voucher, the user presentsa wallet identity (i.e., a physical card associated with a gamingestablishment account associated with a virtual ticket voucher or amobile device running a mobile device application associated with agaming establishment account associated with a virtual ticket voucher ora mobile device running a mobile device application associated with avirtual ticket voucher independent of any gaming establishment account)to the ticket voucher redemption kiosk. In this embodiment, uponlaunching the application on the mobile device and following the userselecting a virtual ticket voucher to redeem, the mobile deviceapplication prompts the user to cause the mobile device to engage theticket voucher redemption kiosk, such as prompting the user to tap themobile device to a designated portion of the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk (or otherwise moving the mobile device to within a designateddistance of a designated location of the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk) to initiate the redemption of the selected virtual ticketvoucher. In this embodiment, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk (or acomponent of a gaming establishment management system located inside theticket voucher redemption kiosk) operates with the ticket voucher systemto determine whether to authorize the redemption of the virtual ticketvoucher. That is, the ticket voucher redemption system operates with theticket voucher system to determine whether the virtual ticket voucher isan authentic virtual ticket voucher by verifying that the virtual ticketvoucher to be redeemed is a valid ticket voucher which is authentic andhas not been previously redeemed and/or voided by the ticket vouchersystem.

In these embodiments, regardless of the form of the ticket voucher to beredeemed, if the system determines not to authorize the redemption ofthe ticket voucher because the ticket voucher is inauthentic orotherwise invalid, such as being previously redeemed or voided by theticket voucher system, the system communicates a denial to the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk and does not complete the ticket voucherredemption. In certain embodiments, the system conveys one or moremessages to the user regarding the denial of the ticket voucherredemption, such as via a display device of the ticket voucherredemption kiosk.

On the other hand, if the system determines to authorize the redemptionof the ticket voucher because the ticket voucher is valid and authentic,the system notifies the ticket voucher redemption kiosk of the approvedredemption and informs the ticket voucher redemption kiosk to enable theuser to select a cash form of payment or a non-cash form of payment forthe amount of funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher. Forexample, as seen in FIG. 2A, following the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk 102 receiving a ticket voucher associated with a value of $195.15,the ticket voucher redemption kiosk enables the user to select toreceive $195.15 in cash 202, $195.15 in the form of a pre-paid debitcard 204, or $195.15 in the form of an original credit transaction 206.

In certain embodiments, the non-cash form of payment includes a pre-paiddebit card which can be used in association with a financial network,such as a credit card network, to enable the cardholder to spend moneywhich has been associated with the pre-paid debit card via a priordeposit of funds in association with the redemption of a ticket voucher.In certain such embodiments, the pre-paid debit card is a reloadabledebit card wherein the user or another entity may add additional fundsto the pre-paid debit card. In other such embodiments, the pre-paiddebit card is a non-reloadable debit card wherein neither the user oranother entity may add any additional funds to the pre-paid debit card.In certain such embodiments, the amounts of funds associated with apre-paid debit card may be utilized to purchase goods and/or services,but may not be convertible for cash. In other such embodiments, theamounts of funds associated with a pre-paid debit card may be utilizedto purchase goods and/or services and also convertible for cash, such asvia an automated teller machine. In this embodiment, to comply withcertain anti-money laundering regulations, prior to enabling a user toconvert an amount of funds associated with a redeemed ticket voucher toa pre-paid debit card usable at an automated teller machine, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk must first obtain an identity of the user.

In certain embodiments, the non-cash form of payment additionally oralternatively includes a pre-paid gift card which is associated with oneor more merchants. In these embodiments, per current U.S. TreasuryDepartment regulations, the funds associated with such a pre-paid giftcard, such as a pre-paid merchant card, may not be convertible for cash,but may be used to pay for various purchases of goods and/or services atthe associated merchant. In certain embodiments, the pre-paid gift cardis reloadable wherein the user or another entity may add additionalfunds to the pre-paid gift card. In other embodiments, the pre-paid giftcard is not reloadable wherein neither the user or another entity mayadd any additional funds to the pre-paid gift card.

In certain embodiments, the pre-paid debit card and/or the pre-paid giftcard include physical cards including one or more embedded microchipsand/or magnetic stripes that store information regarding the pre-paiddebit card and/or the pre-paid gift card. In certain embodiments, thepre-paid debit card and/or the pre-paid gift card additionally oralternatively include virtual cards, wherein a user is provided logininformation to access a website which displays the electronic pre-paiddebit card number and/or the electronic pre-paid gift card number. Incertain embodiments, the pre-paid debit card and/or the pre-paid giftcard additionally or alternatively include virtual cards, wherein a useraccesses the pre-paid debit card and/or the pre-paid gift card via anelectronic wallet, such as an electronic wallet associated with a mobiledevice, which then stores information regarding the pre-paid debit cardand/or the pre-paid gift card.

In certain embodiments, the non-cash form of payment additionally oralternatively includes an original credit transaction wherein an amountof funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher are credited to anaccount of the user, such as a credit card account or a debit cardaccount. That is, unlike a refund transaction which enables a merchantto return an amount of funds previously withdrawn from a credit cardaccount and/or a debit card account of a user back to the account of theuser which the funds were initially drawn from, an original credittransaction enables the transfer of an amount of funds to a credit cardaccount of the user and/or a debit card account of the user regardlessof any original transaction. Put differently, an original credittransaction enables an amount of funds to be transferred directly to acredit card account and/or a debit card account independent of any priortransaction which charged an amount of funds from that account.

If the user selects the cash form of payment for the amount of fundsassociated with the redeemed ticket voucher, then the ticket voucherredemption kiosk issues an amount of cash to the user equal to theamount of funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher. Inassociation with the redemption of the ticket voucher for an amount ofcash, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk communicates data associatedwith such a redemption to the ticket voucher system which updates one ormore databases to account for the redemption of the ticket voucher. Thatis, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk sends data associated with theredeemed ticket voucher to a server of the ticket voucher system torecord the transaction of the redemption of the ticket voucher.

On the other hand, if the user selects the non-cash form of payment forthe amount of funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher, thenthe system communicates with one or more servers of an external network,such as a server of a banking network, to provide the non-cash form ofpayment to the user. That is, rather than providing the user an amountof cash for a redeemed ticket voucher, the system enables the user toconvert the amount of funds associated with a redeemed ticket voucher toa non-cash form of payment which certain users and certain gamingestablishments find preferable.

In certain embodiments wherein the non-cash form of payment includes apre-paid debit card, upon the user selecting to redeem a ticket voucherfor a pre-paid debit card, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk issues tothe user a pre-paid debit card having an amount of funds equal to, minusany processing fees, the amount of funds associated with the redeemedticket voucher. For example, as seen in FIG. 2B, upon the user selectingto obtain $195.15 in the form of a pre-paid debit card, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk issues to the user a pre-paid debit card fundedwith $195.15 (not shown) and informs the user to take the pre-paid debitcard dispensed by the ticket voucher redemption kiosk. In anotherembodiment wherein the non-cash form of payment includes a pre-paiddebit card, upon the user selecting to redeem a ticket voucher for apre-paid debit card, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk enables theuser to insert a previously issued pre-paid debit card wherein uponreceipt of that pre-paid debit card, the ticket voucher redemption kioskfunds that pre-paid debit card with an amount of funds equal to, minusany processing fees, the amount of funds associated with the redeemedticket voucher. In one such embodiment, in recognition of the loweradministrative costs associated with reusing pre-paid debit cards, thesystem imposes less processing fees for converting an amount of fundsassociated with a redeemed ticket voucher to a previously issuedpre-paid debit card than a newly issued pre-paid debit card.

In these embodiments, to either issue a pre-paid debit card or add anamount of funds to a previously issued pre-paid debit card, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk communicates with one or more servers of abanking network (or one or more intermediate servers which thencommunicate with one or more servers of the banking network) to fund apre-paid debit card with part or all of the amount of funds associatedwith the redeemed ticket voucher. In these embodiments, since theredeemed ticket voucher is a bearer instrument, in redeeming a ticketvoucher for a pre-paid debit card, the system initiates a fund transferwherein an amount of funds corresponding to part or all of the amount ofthe redeemed ticket voucher is transferred from a gaming establishmentaccount which holds the funds associated with the ticket voucher system,such as a banking account associated with the gaming establishment, toan account of a financial institution which maintains the pre-paid debitcard, such as a banking account associated with a bank that issues thepre-paid debit card. That is, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk is incommunication with a pre-paid card system, such as a financialinstitution including one or more servers which store, in one or moredatabases, pre-paid card identification information associated with eachcreated pre-paid card, such as identifying information, valueinformation, and/or activity information. For example, as seen in FIG.1A, in issuing a pre-paid debit card 106 to a user 108 redeeming aticket voucher 110, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk 102 operateswith a banking network interface 112 to fund a pre-paid debit card 106associated with the redeemed ticket voucher 110. In these embodiments,in addition to communicating data with a server of a banking network tofund a pre-paid debit card, in association with the redemption of aticket voucher for a pre-paid debit card, the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk communicates data associated with such a redemption to the ticketvoucher system which records the transaction of the redemption of theticket voucher (e.g., reduces the amount of funds associated with theidentification number of the redeemed ticket voucher to account for thepre-paid debit card and any incurred fees) and updates one or moredatabases to account for the redemption of the ticket voucher.

In certain embodiments wherein the non-cash form of payment includes apre-paid gift card, upon the user selecting to redeem a ticket voucherfor a pre-paid gift card, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk issues tothe user a pre-paid gift card having an amount of funds equal to, minusany processing fees, the amount of funds associated with the redeemedticket voucher. In another embodiment wherein the non-cash form ofpayment includes a pre-paid gift card, upon the user selecting to redeema ticket voucher for a pre-paid gift card, the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk enables the user to insert a previously issued pre-paid gift cardwherein upon receipt of that pre-paid gift card, the ticket voucherredemption kiosk funds that pre-paid gift card with an amount of fundsequal to, minus any processing fees, the amount of funds associated withthe redeemed ticket voucher.

In these embodiments, to either issue a pre-paid gift card or add anamount of funds to a previously issued pre-paid gift card, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk communicates with one or more servers of amerchant and/or a banking network (or one or more intermediate serverswhich then communicate with one or more servers of the merchant and/orthe banking network) to fund a pre-paid gift card with part or all ofthe amount of funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher. Inthese embodiments, since the redeemed ticket voucher is a bearerinstrument, in redeeming a ticket voucher for a pre-paid gift card, thesystem initiates a fund transfer wherein an amount of fundscorresponding to part or all of the amount of the redeemed ticketvoucher is transferred from a gaming establishment account which holdsthe funds associated with the ticket voucher system, such as a bankingaccount associated with the gaming establishment, to an account of amerchant which issues the pre-paid gift card, such as a banking accountassociated with a retailer that issues the pre-paid gift card. In theseembodiments, in addition to communicating data with a server of abanking network to obtain a pre-paid gift card, in association with theredemption of a ticket voucher for a pre-paid gift card, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk communicates data associated with such aredemption to the ticket voucher system which records the transaction ofthe redemption of the ticket voucher (e.g., reduces the amount of fundsassociated with the identification number of the redeemed ticket voucherto account for the pre-paid gift card and any incurred fees) and updatesone or more databases to account for the redemption of the ticketvoucher.

In certain embodiments wherein the non-cash form of payment includes anoriginal credit transaction, upon the user selecting to redeem a ticketvoucher for an original credit transaction, the ticket voucherredemption kiosk enables the user to insert or swipe a credit card or adebit card (or transfer data associated with such a credit card or adebit card from a mobile device application of a mobile device incommunication with the ticket voucher redemption kiosk), wherein uponreading data from the credit card or the debit card, the ticket voucherredemption kiosk transfers an amount of funds equal to, minus anyprocessing fees, the amount of funds associated with the redeemed ticketvoucher to the account associated with the received credit card or thereceived debit card. For example, as seen in FIG. 2C, upon the userselecting to obtain $195.15 in the form of an original credittransaction and following the user providing information regarding theircredit card, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk creates an originalcredit transaction by funding the user's credit card with $195.15 (notshown) and informs the user to take the receipt memorializing thecrediting of the user's provided credit card with the $195.15 from theredeemed ticket voucher.

In these embodiments, to create an original credit transaction, theticket voucher redemption kiosk communicates with one or more servers ofa banking network (or one or more intermediate servers which thencommunicate with one or more servers of the banking network) to createan original credit transaction with part or all of the amount of fundsassociated with the redeemed ticket voucher. In these embodiments, sincethe redeemed ticket voucher is a bearer instrument, in redeeming aticket voucher for an original credit transaction, the system initiatesa fund transfer wherein an amount of funds corresponding to part or allof the amount of the redeemed ticket voucher is transferred from agaming establishment account which holds the funds associated with theticket voucher system, such as a banking account associated with thegaming establishment, to the credit card account associated with thecredit card of the user and/or the banking account associated with thedebit card of the user. For example, as seen in FIG. 1B, in creating anoriginal credit transaction for a user 108 redeeming a ticket voucher110, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk 102 operates with a bankingnetwork interface 112 to create an original credit transaction whichfunds the account associated with the credit card or debit card 114 ofthe user. In these embodiments, in addition to communicating data with aserver of a banking network to create an original credit transaction, inassociation with the redemption of a ticket voucher, the ticket voucherredemption kiosk communicates data associated with such a redemption tothe ticket voucher system which records the transaction of theredemption of the ticket voucher (e.g., reduces the amount of fundsassociated with the identification number of the redeemed ticket voucherto account for the created original credit transaction and any incurredfees) and updates one or more databases to account for the redemption ofthe ticket voucher.

In certain embodiments, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk enables auser to select a non-cash form of payment for the entire amount of fundsassociated with the redeemed ticket voucher. In certain embodiments, theticket voucher redemption kiosk enables a user to select a non-cash formof payment for a portion of the amount of funds associated with theredeemed ticket voucher. In these embodiments, the ticket voucherredemption kiosk enables a user to split the amount of funds associatedwith the redeemed ticket voucher into one or more forms of payment, suchas between a pre-paid debit card, a pre-paid gift card, an originalcredit transaction, an amount of cash and/or a transfer of an amount offunds to a financial account associated with the user that is maintainedby a financial institution. For example, if a user has a ticket voucherassociated with $1000 and the user redeems that ticket voucher at aticket voucher redemption kiosk, the ticket voucher redemption kioskenables the user to select to split the amount of funds to $100 in cash(dispensed by the ticket voucher redemption kiosk) and $900 transferredto a bank account associated with the user.

In certain embodiments, to facilitate the conversion of a redeemedticket voucher to a non-cash form of payment, as indicated above, thesystem imposes certain fees associated with such a conversion. Certainof these transaction fees are imposed by the financial institution whichis issuing the pre-paid card or creating the original credittransaction. In one such embodiment, different financial institutionsmay impose different fees for different types of non-cash forms ofpayment (e.g., a conversion of a redeemed ticket voucher to a pre-paiddebit card carries a 2% fee imposed on the amount of the ticket voucherwhile a conversion of a redeemed ticket voucher to a creation of anoriginal credit transaction carries a 1% fee imposed on the amount ofthe ticket voucher). In another such embodiment, different financialinstitutions may additionally or alternatively impose different fees fordifferent amounts of funds being transferred to these non-cash forms ofpayment (e.g., a conversion of a redeemed ticket voucher to a pre-paiddebit card having a value of under $500 carries a 2% fee imposed on theamount of the ticket voucher while a conversion of a redeemed ticketvoucher to a pre-paid debit card having a value of $500 and greatercarries a 1% fee imposed on the amount of the ticket voucher).

In certain embodiments, the amount of such fees are taken from theamount of funds associated with the redeemed ticket voucher. In certainembodiments, the user separately pays such fees using playing trackingpoints, comps, currency, funds associated with one or more gamingestablishment accounts maintained for the user, and/or promotionalpoints. In certain embodiments, to encourage the use of this alternativeform of ticket voucher redemption (and thus realize the variousabove-described benefits to the user and gaming establishment), thegaming establishment pays for such fees on the user's behalf In theseembodiments, the gaming establishment may pay the fees for certain users(e.g., identified users having a relatively high player tracking status)while not pay the fees for other users (e.g., unidentified users). Incertain other embodiments, to facilitate the conversion of a redeemedticket voucher to a non-cash form of payment, the system does not imposeany fees associated with such a conversion. In certain otherembodiments, to encourage the use of this alternative form of ticketvoucher redemption (and thus realize the various above-describedbenefits to the user and gaming establishment), the gaming establishmentenables a user to convert a first amount of funds associated with aredeemed ticket voucher to a non-cash form of payment associated with asecond, greater amount of funds.

In certain embodiments, in association with redeeming a ticket voucherfor a non-cash form of payment, the ticket voucher redemption kioskcommunicates with one or more servers of a gaming establishment patronmanagement system, such as a player tracking system (or one or moreintermediate servers which then communicate with one or more servers ofthe gaming establishment patron management system) to attempt toidentify the user redeeming the ticket voucher. In certain suchembodiments, to comply with one or more financial reporting requirementsof the banking network that is facilitating the non-cash form ofpayment, prior to enabling a user to redeem one or more ticket vouchersfor a non-cash form of payment, the system requires an identification ofthe user. For example, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in issuing a pre-paiddebit card 106 to a user redeeming a ticket voucher 110 (as seen in FIG.1A) and/or in creating an original credit transaction for a userredeeming a ticket voucher 110 (as seen in FIG. 1B), the ticket voucherredemption kiosk 102 operates with a gaming establishment patronmanagement system 116 to obtain information, if applicable, regarding anidentity of the user redeeming the ticket voucher. It should beappreciated that in certain other embodiments wherein the user isredeeming a virtual ticket voucher for a non-cash form of payment, inassociation with communicating data associated with the redeemed virtualticket voucher to the ticket voucher redemption kiosk, the mobile deviceapplication of the mobile device (which is accessing the virtual ticketvoucher) also communicates identifying data associated with the user tothe ticket voucher redemption kiosk.

In certain embodiments, in view of various anti-money launderingregulations, the ticket voucher redemption kiosk imposes certain limitson the amount of funds which can be converted to non-cash forms ofpayment over a designated period of time, such as over a day, a week ora month. In these embodiments, for each identified user, the systemmaintains a database of ticket vouchers redeemed for non-cash forms ofpayment such that the system may determine, based on any limits imposedfor that user, whether or not to authorize the conversion of a ticketvoucher to a non-cash form of payment. That is, prior to authorizing theredemption of a ticket voucher to a non-cash form of payment for anidentified user, the system determines if that user is below the limitimposed by the system on that user for the designated period of time. Ifthe system determines that the user has exceeded the limit imposed bythe system on that user for the designated period of time, the systemprohibits the further conversion of funds associated with ticketvouchers to non-cash forms of payment for the designated period of time.On the other hand, if the system determines that the user is below thelimit imposed by the system on that user for the designated period oftime, the system enables the system to proceed as described herein withthe conversion of funds associated with ticket vouchers to non-cashforms of payment. It should be appreciated that such a database of whichusers redeemed which ticket vouchers for which non-cash forms of paymentenables authorities in any future financial fraud investigations oranti-money laundering compliance related tasks.

In certain such embodiments, the system imposes different limits fordifferent users based on whether or not that user is identified by thesystem. In these embodiments, over the same designated period of time,the system enables an unidentified user to redeem one or more ticketvouchers associated with a first amount of funds for a non-cash form ofpayment and enables an identified user to redeem one or more ticketvouchers associated with a second, different amount of funds for anon-cash form of payment. For example, the system enables anunregistered anonymous user to redeem one or more ticket vouchers havinga total value of $500 or less per day for non-cash forms of paymentwhile the system enables a registered user (whom swipes their playertracking card during the ticket redemption transaction) to redeem one ormore ticket vouchers having a total value of up to $4000 per day fornon-cash forms of payment. It should be appreciated that for certaintypes of non-cash forms of payment, such as an original credittransaction in which the user enables the ticket voucher redemptionkiosk to read data from the user's credit card or debit card, the ticketvoucher redemption kiosk has already identified the user in associationwith that a transaction such that the system may track the ticketvoucher redemption activity of that identified user. It should befurther appreciated that to prohibit an unidentified user fromrepeatedly redeeming ticket vouchers for non-cash forms of paymentbeyond the limits imposed by the system, in certain embodiments, thesystem utilizes one or more biometric indicators, such as a facialrecognition technologies, to track an unregistered user (by biometricindicators and not by user identification information stored in a gamingestablishment patron management system) for anti-money launderingcompliance.

In certain other embodiments, the system imposes different limits fordifferent users based on the identity of those users. In theseembodiments, the system enables different identified users to redeem oneor more ticket vouchers associated with different amounts of funds for anon-cash form of payment over a designated period of time. For example,the system enables an identified user having a first player trackingstatus to redeem one or more ticket vouchers having a total value of$1000 or less per day for non-cash forms of payment while the systemenables an identified user having a second, greater player trackingstatus to redeem one or more ticket vouchers having a total value of upto $5000 per day for non-cash forms of payment.

It should be appreciated that while described herein as the userutilizing a ticket voucher redemption kiosk to convert an amount offunds associated with a redeemed ticket voucher to a non-cash form ofpayment, in alternative embodiments, an EGM, a mobile device, and/or agaming establishment interface, such as a casino desk, are each operableto convert an amount of funds associated with a redeemed ticket voucherto a non-cash form of payment. In these alternative embodiments, certainalternative devices are operable to convert an amount of fundsassociated with a redeemed ticket voucher to certain types of non-cashforms of payment while other alternative devices are operable to convertan amount of funds associated with a redeemed ticket voucher to any typeof non-cash form of payment. For example, while an EGM (such as a slotmachine, a video poker machine, a video lottery terminal (VLT), aterminal associated with an electronic table game, a video keno machine,a video bingo machine located on a casino floor, or a sports bettingterminal) which is configured to dispense a pre-paid card may convert anamount of funds associated with a redeemed ticket voucher to either aphysical pre-paid card or a virtual pre-paid card, a mobile devicerunning a mobile device application may convert an amount of fundsassociated with a redeemed ticket voucher to a virtual pre-paid card.

Accordingly, in view of the various security concerns (e.g., protectinggaming establishment cash and protecting gaming establishment patronscarrying cash) and labor concerns (e.g., servicing ticket voucherredemption kiosks which dispense cash in exchange for ticket vouchers)associated with cash-based transactions, the system disclosed hereinprovides an alternative, non-cash-based option for a gamingestablishment patron to redeem a ticket voucher while complying withvarious anti-money laundering regulations which require the tracking ofcertain financial transactions associated with a gaming establishmentpatron. As such, to further expand the cashless ecosystem certain gamingestablishments strive for, the system disclosed herein enables a userthe opportunity to exchange a ticket voucher, in paper form or virtualform, for an amount of funds that are independent of any amount of cashand relatively more secure than an amount of cash.

Obtaining Ticket Vouchers

In various embodiments, prior to redeeming a ticket voucher for anamount of funds associated with a pre-paid card and/or an originalcredit transaction as described herein, an amount of funds must beconverted to one or more ticket vouchers.

In certain embodiments, the system enables an amount of funds depositedin an EGM to be converted to one or more ticket vouchers. In one suchembodiment, the system enables a user that has an amount of cash (orother forms of payment as disclosed herein) to utilize an EGM to convertthe cash to one or more ticket vouchers via the user first depositingthe amount of cash into the EGM and then subsequently cashing out(either pre or post any gaming activity) an amount of a credit balanceof the EGM in exchange for a ticket voucher. In another such embodiment,the system enables a user that has one or more printed ticket vouchersto utilize an EGM to convert the printed ticket voucher(s) to a virtualticket voucher associated with a gaming establishment account maintainedfor the user. In another such embodiment, the system enables a user thathas one or more printed ticket vouchers to utilize an EGM to convert theprinted ticket voucher(s) to an anonymous virtual ticket voucherassociated with a mobile device.

In certain embodiments, the system enables an amount of funds depositedin a kiosk to be converted to one or more ticket vouchers. In one suchembodiment, the system enables a user that has an amount of cash (orother forms of payment as disclosed herein) to utilize a kiosk toconvert the cash to one or more ticket vouchers via the user depositingthe amount of cash into the kiosk and then subsequently cashing out thedeposited amount in exchange for a ticket voucher. In another suchembodiment, the system enables a user that has one or more printedticket vouchers to utilize a kiosk to convert the printed ticketvoucher(s) to a virtual ticket voucher associated with a gamingestablishment account maintained for the user. In another suchembodiment, the system enables a user that has one or more printedticket vouchers to utilize a kiosk to convert the printed ticketvoucher(s) to an anonymous virtual ticket voucher associated with amobile device.

In certain embodiments, the system enables an amount of funds providedto a gaming establishment interface, such as a casino desk or cage, tobe converted to one or more ticket vouchers. In one such embodiment, thesystem enables a user that has an amount of cash (or other forms ofpayment as disclosed herein) to utilize a gaming establishment interfaceto convert the cash to one or more ticket vouchers via the userproviding the amount of cash to the gaming establishment interface inexchange for a ticket voucher. In another such embodiment, the systemenables a user that has one or more printed ticket vouchers to utilize agaming establishment interface to convert the printed ticket voucher(s)to a virtual ticket voucher associated with a gaming establishmentaccount maintained for the user. In another such embodiment, the systemenables a user that has one or more printed ticket vouchers to utilize agaming establishment interface to convert the printed ticket voucher(s)to an anonymous virtual ticket voucher associated with a mobile device.

In certain embodiments, the system enables an amount of funds providedto a retail interface, such as a kiosk or cashier at a retailestablishment, to be converted to one or more ticket vouchers. In onesuch embodiment, the system enables a user that has an amount of cash(or other forms of payment as disclosed herein) to utilize a retailinterface to convert the cash to one or more ticket vouchers via theuser providing the amount of cash to the retail interface in exchangefor a ticket voucher.

In certain embodiments, the system enables an amount of funds associatedwith a gaming establishment account maintained for the user, such as agaming establishment retail account or a cashless wagering account, topurchase a ticket voucher. In these embodiments, the system enables auser to transfer an amount of funds from a gaming establishment accountmaintained for the user to a ticket voucher system in exchange for aticket voucher.

It should be appreciated that in these embodiments wherein funds fromone or more sources are potentially used to obtain a ticket voucher,when a user attempts to obtain one or more ticket vouchers, the systemdetermines whether to authorize the exchange of an amount of funds for aticket voucher. If the system determines not to authorize the exchangeof an amount of funds for a ticket voucher, the system communicates adenial to the user and does not cause any ticket vouchers to be issued.On the other hand, if the system determines to authorize the exchange ofan amount of funds for a ticket voucher, the system: (i) retains theamount of funds (if, for example, an amount of cash is exchanged at akiosk for a ticket voucher); (ii) updates a credit balance to reflectthe exchange of an amount of funds for a ticket voucher (if, forexample, a credit balance of an EGM is being cashed out in exchange fora ticket voucher); and/or (iii) updates an account to reflect theexchange of an amount of funds for a ticket voucher (if, for example, agaming establishment account associated with the user is exchanged for aticket voucher). In these embodiments, following the exchange of anamount of funds for a ticket voucher, the system communicates anauthorization to the ticket voucher system. Upon receiving dataassociated with the authorized exchange of an amount of funds for aticket voucher, the ticket voucher system creates a ticket voucherassociated with the exchanged amount of funds and stores data associatedwith the ticket voucher in one or more databases. Such a created ticketvoucher is associated with ticket voucher identification informationmaintained by the ticket voucher system to identify that ticket voucherfor subsequent validation upon a redemption of that ticket voucher. Inthese embodiments, for each created ticket voucher, the ticket voucheridentification information maintained by the ticket voucher systemincludes one or more of: a date of the ticket voucher issuance, avalidation or identification number, such as a ticket number, associatedwith the ticket voucher, a property address associated with the ticketvoucher issuance, an amount of funds associated with the ticket voucher,an expiration date associated with the ticket voucher, an EGMidentification associated with the issuance of the ticket voucher, akiosk identification association with the issuance of the ticketvoucher, font or formatting information associated with the ticketvoucher, and/or an image of the ticket voucher (e.g., an image of afront of the ticket voucher and/or an image of a back of the ticketvoucher).

It should be appreciated that since a created ticket voucher may takemultiple forms, the system disclosed herein includes multiple ways toconvey such a created ticket voucher to the user. In one embodimentwherein the created ticket voucher takes the form of a paper ticketvoucher, the ticket voucher system causes a ticket voucher printer toprint the created ticket voucher. In another embodiment wherein thecreated ticket voucher takes the form of a virtual ticket voucher, theticket voucher system communicates data to a device associated with theuser, such as a mobile device running an application associated with theticket voucher system, to transfer the created virtual ticket voucher tothe user.

Ticket Voucher Redemption Components

It should be further appreciated that the conversion of one or moreticket vouchers to one or more non-cash forms of payment utilizes one ormore components of a ticket voucher system, such as a ticket voucherredemption kiosk. Such components of the ticket voucher system include acontroller including at least one processor. The at least one processoris any suitable processing device or set of processing devices, such asa microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, a suitableintegrated circuit, or one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), configured to execute software enabling variousconfiguration and reconfiguration tasks, such as: (1) communicating witha remote source (such as a server that stores authentication informationor fund information) via a communication interface of the controller;(2) converting signals read by an interface to a format corresponding tothat used by software or memory of the component of the ticket vouchersystem; (3) accessing memory to configure or reconfigure parameters inthe memory according to indicia read from the component of the ticketvoucher system; (4) communicating with interfaces and the peripheraldevices (such as input/output devices); and/or (5) controlling theperipheral devices. In certain embodiments, one or more components ofthe controller (such as the at least one processor) reside within ahousing of the component of the ticket voucher system, while in otherembodiments, at least one component of the controller resides outside ofthe housing of the component of the ticket voucher system.

The controller also includes at least one memory device, which includes:(1) volatile memory (e.g., RAM which can include non-volatile RAM,magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, and any other suitable forms); (2)non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs,memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.); (3) unalterablememory (e.g., EPROMs); (4) read-only memory; and/or (5) a secondarymemory storage device, such as a non-volatile memory device, configuredto store software related information (the software related informationand the memory may be used to store various files not currently beingused and invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration). Any othersuitable magnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate inconjunction with the component of the ticket voucher system disclosedherein. In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device resideswithin the housing of the component of the ticket voucher system, whilein other embodiments at least one component of the at least one memorydevice resides outside of the housing of the component of the ticketvoucher system. In these embodiments, any combination of one or morecomputer readable media may be utilized. The computer readable media maybe a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storagemedium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but notlimited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an appropriate optical fiber with a repeater, aportable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program codeembodied on a computer readable signal medium may be transmitted usingany appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

The at least one memory device is configured to store, for example: (1)configuration software, such as all the parameters and settings on thecomponent of the ticket voucher system; (2) associations betweenconfiguration indicia read from a component of the ticket voucher systemwith one or more parameters and settings; (3) communication protocolsconfigured to enable the at least one processor to communicate with theperipheral devices; and/or (4) communication transport protocols (suchas TCP/IP, USB, Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11standards), hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) configured to enable the componentof the ticket voucher system to communicate with local and non-localdevices using such protocols. In one implementation, the controllercommunicates with other devices using a serial communication protocol. Afew non-limiting examples of serial communication protocols that otherdevices, such as peripherals (e.g., a bill validator or a ticketprinter), may use to communicate with the controller include USB,RS-232, and Netplex (a proprietary protocol developed by IGT).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number ofpatentable classes or context including any new and useful process,machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and usefulimprovement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure maybe implemented entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combining software and hardwareimplementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C #, VB.NET,Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, suchas the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2003, Perl, COBOL2002, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby andGroovy, or other programming languages. The program code may executeentirely on the player's computer, partly on the player's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the player's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to theplayer's computer through any type of network, including a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider) or in a cloud computing environment oroffered as a service such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thedisclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable instruction executionapparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that when executed can direct a computer, otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in thecomputer readable medium produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement thefunction/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or otherdevices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device is configured tostore program code and instructions executable by the at least oneprocessor of the component of the ticket voucher system to control thecomponent of the ticket voucher system. In various embodiments, part orall of the program code and/or the operating data described above isstored in at least one detachable or removable memory device including,but not limited to, a cartridge, a disk, a CD ROM, a DVD, a USB memorydevice, or any other suitable non-transitory computer readable medium.In certain such embodiments, an operator (such as a gaming establishmentoperator) and/or a user uses such a removable memory device in acomponent of the ticket voucher system to implement at least part of thepresent disclosure. In other embodiments, part or all of the programcode and/or the operating data is downloaded to the at least one memorydevice of the component of the ticket voucher system through anysuitable data network described above (such as an Internet or intranet).

The at least one memory device also stores a plurality of devicedrivers. Examples of different types of device drivers include devicedrivers for component of the ticket voucher system components and devicedrivers for the peripheral components. Typically, the device driversutilize various communication protocols that enable communication with aparticular physical device. The device driver abstracts the hardwareimplementation of that device. For example, a device driver may bewritten for each type of card reader that could potentially be connectedto the component of the ticket voucher system. Non-limiting examples ofcommunication protocols used to implement the device drivers includeNetplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet, Firewire, I/O debouncer, direct memorymap, serial, PCI, parallel, RF, Bluetooth™, near-field communications(e.g., using near-field magnetics), 802.11 (WiFi), etc. In oneembodiment, when one type of a particular device is exchanged foranother type of the particular device, the at least one processor of thecomponent of the ticket voucher system loads the new device driver fromthe at least one memory device to enable communication with the newdevice. For instance, one type of card reader in the component of theticket voucher system can be replaced with a second different type ofcard reader when device drivers for both card readers are stored in theat least one memory device.

In certain embodiments, the software units stored in the at least onememory device can be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the at leastone memory device is a hard drive, new parameters, new settings forexisting parameters, new settings for new parameters, new devicedrivers, and new communication protocols can be uploaded to the at leastone memory device from the controller or from some other externaldevice. As another example, when the at least one memory device includesa CD/DVD drive including a CD/DVD configured to store options,parameters, and settings, the software stored in the at least one memorydevice can be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a second CD/DVD.In yet another example, when the at least one memory device uses flashmemory or EPROM units configured to store options, parameters, andsettings, the software stored in the flash and/or EPROM memory units canbe upgraded by replacing one or more memory units with new memory unitsthat include the upgraded software. In another embodiment, one or moreof the memory devices, such as the hard drive, may be employed in asoftware download process from a remote software server.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory device also storesauthentication and/or validation components configured toauthenticate/validate specified component of the ticket voucher systemcomponents and/or information, such as hardware components, softwarecomponents, firmware components, peripheral device components, userinput device components, information received from one or more userinput devices, information stored in the at least one memory device,etc.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral devices include several deviceinterfaces, such as, but not limited to: (1) at least one output deviceincluding at least one display device and at least one pre-paid debitcard dispenser; (2) at least one input device (which may include contactand/or non-contact interfaces) including at least one debit card/creditcard reader; (3) at least one transponder; (4) at least one wirelesscommunication component; (5) at least one wired/wireless powerdistribution component; (6) at least one sensor; (7) at least one datapreservation component; (8) at least one motion/gesture analysis andinterpretation component; (9) at least one motion detection component;(10) at least one portable power source; (11) at least one geolocationmodule; (12) at least one user identification module; (13) at least oneuser/device tracking module; and (14) at least one information filteringmodule.

Mobile Device Communications

As indicated above, in various embodiments, one or more actions occurbetween a mobile device and one or more components of the ticket vouchersystem, via one or more wireless communication protocols between themobile device and the component of the ticket voucher system. In theseembodiments, as described in more detail below, the mobile deviceapplication of the mobile device communicates virtual ticket voucheridentifying information to the ticket voucher redemption kiosk over oneor more wireless communication protocols including, but not limited to:Bluetooth™, Bluetooth™ Low Energy (“BLE”), one or more cellularcommunication standards (e.g., 3G, 4G, LTE), one or more Wi-Ficompatible standards, and/or one or more short range communicationprotocols (e.g., a near field communication (“NFC”) protocol).

In certain embodiments, the communication with the mobile device canoccur through one or more wireless interfaces of the component of theticket voucher system. In one embodiment, the wireless interface isintegrated into the cabinet of the component of the ticket vouchersystem and the processor of the component of the ticket voucher systemis configured to communicate directly with and send control commands tothe wireless interface. In another embodiment, the wireless interface isintegrated into a device mounted to and/or within the cabinet of thecomponent of the ticket voucher system. In certain embodiments where thewireless interface is embedded in a secondary device, the processor ofthe component of the ticket voucher system sends control commands tocontrol the wireless interface via a secondary controller.

In certain embodiments which utilize a near field communication (“NFC”)implementation, the mobile device application registers a mobile deviceapplication with one or more processors of the mobile device. In theseembodiments, when the mobile device is detected by an NFC reader of acomponent of the ticket voucher system, the component of the ticketvoucher system communicates one or more data messages to the mobiledevice (or to one or more servers which then communicate such datamessages to the mobile device). Such data messages are commandsgenerated by the component of the ticket voucher system when the mobiledevice is detected in the NFC reader field. The processor of the mobiledevice communicates the data message to the mobile device application.The mobile device application responds, such as communicating atriggering message, and a communication channel is opened between thecomponent of the ticket voucher system and the mobile device application(or between the component of the ticket voucher system, one or moreservers and the mobile device application). This open communicationchannel enables the component of the ticket voucher system to send,though the NFC reader, additional data messages to the mobile device (orto the mobile device via one or more servers) which are responded to bythe mobile device application of the mobile device. It should beappreciated that as long as the mobile device remains within the NFCfield, the component of the ticket voucher system is configured tocommunicate with the mobile device and send data, such as statusupdates, as necessary. However, once the mobile device is removed fromthe NFC field, the communication channel is closed and such statusupdates must be discontinued.

In other embodiments, the wireless interface implements a Wi-Fi,cellular and/or Bluetooth™ communications protocol to facilitate thecommunication of data between the mobile device and the component of theticket voucher system. In such embodiments, Bluetooth™ pairing occurswhen two Bluetooth devices agree to communicate with each other andestablish a connection. In order to pair two Bluetooth wireless devices,a password (passkey) is exchanged between the two devices. The Passkeyis a code shared by both Bluetooth devices, which proves that both usershave agreed to pair with each other. After the passkey code isexchanged, an encrypted communication can be set up between the pairdevices. In Wi-Fi paring, every pairing can be set up with WPA2encryption or another type of encryption scheme to keep the transferprivate. Wi-Fi Direct is an example of a protocol that can be used toestablish point-to-point communications between two Wi-Fi devices. Theprotocol enables for a Wi-Fi device pair directly with another withouthaving to first join a local network.

It should be appreciated that Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth™communication protocols can be used in lieu of or in combination withNFC. For instance, an NFC communication can be used to instantiate aWi-Fi or Bluetooth™ communication between the component of the ticketvoucher system, zero, one or more servers and a mobile device, such assecure pairing using one of these protocols. That is, in one embodiment,an NFC interface on a component of the ticket voucher system can be usedto set-up a higher speed communication between the component of theticket voucher system, zero, one or more servers and the NFC enabledmobile device. The higher speed communication rates can be used forexpanded content sharing. For instance, a NFC and Bluetooth enabledcomponent of the ticket voucher system can be tapped by an NFC andBluetooth enabled mobile device for instant Bluetooth pairing betweenthe devices and zero, one or more servers. Instant Bluetooth pairingbetween a component of the ticket voucher system, an NFC enabled mobiledevice and zero, one or more servers, can save searching, waiting, andentering codes. In another example, a component of the ticket vouchersystem can be configured as an NFC enabled router, such as a routersupporting a Wi-Fi communication standard. Tapping an NFC enabled mobiledevice to an NFC enabled and Wi-Fi enabled component of the ticketvoucher system can be used to establish a Wi-Fi connection between thedevices and zero, one or more servers.

In certain embodiments which implement a Wi-Fi, cellular and/orBluetooth™ communications protocol, the system utilizes one or more QRcodes generated by the component of the ticket voucher system tofacilitate the communication of data between the mobile device and thesystem. In such embodiments, the QR code is used to identify thecomponent of the ticket voucher system that is displaying the QR code toidentify the server to which the mobile device should connect. It shouldbe appreciated that the QR code enables the system to establish a securetunnel or path from the mobile device to the gaming establishment'sWi-Fi network and then to the gaming establishment's wired network andfinally to the component of the ticket voucher system. In theseembodiments, a communication tunnel wrapper (i.e., a Wi-FiBluetooth™tunnel wrapper) is utilized to establish a connection between the systemand the mobile device and to transport any data messages describedherein between the component of the ticket voucher system, zero, one ormore servers and the mobile device.

More specifically, in certain embodiments, the user requests, via aninput at the component of the ticket voucher system and/or the mobiledevice, the generation of a QR code by the component of the ticketvoucher system. In response to the user's request, the component of theticket voucher system displays a QR code. In certain embodiments, the QRcode includes a nonce which prevents a third-party (e.g., another user)from sniping the user's login attempt. Such an on-demand QR code remainsvalid for a designated amount of time such that if the user does notscan the QR code within the designated amount of time, another QR codeis necessary to be scanned to connect the mobile device to the componentof the ticket voucher system.

In these embodiments, the user scans the QR code with the mobile deviceapplication. If the system determines that the QR code is valid (i.e.,not expired), the mobile device application will connect to the system.It should be appreciated that as long as the established connectionbetween the mobile device and the system remains active, one or moresystem servers and mobile device may communicate data, such as statusupdates, as necessary. It should be further appreciated that inassociation with the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth™ or mobile device networkcommunications protocol described herein, any action requested by theuser via the mobile device application does not require a new engagementbetween the mobile device and the component of the ticket vouchersystem, such as a new scanning of the QR code to send such a requestedaction from the mobile device to the component of the ticket vouchersystem (or to send a requested action from the mobile device to one ormore servers and then from one or more servers to the component of theticket voucher system).

In certain embodiments, following the scanning of a valid QR code, themobile device application connects to one or more servers. In certainembodiments, after establishing a connection with one or more servers,the mobile device application transmits a connect command to the system.In response to receiving a connect command from the mobile device, thesystem sends a message to the mobile device. This message serves toencapsulate various commands between the system and the mobile device.In these embodiments, if the mobile device application does not receivethis message within a designated period of time, such as within fiveseconds, the mobile device application displays an error message to theuser and directs the user to rescan the QR code.

In addition to the connect command communicated from the mobile deviceapplication to the system, the mobile device application of theseembodiments is configured to send a disconnect command to the system.Such a disconnect command functions to tear-down the connection theserver. It should be appreciated that if the mobile device connection issevered before this command is received by the system, the sever sendsthis command on behalf of the mobile device application;

In another embodiment, the mobile device application is configured tosend a trigger command to the system, such as a component of the ticketvoucher system. In this embodiment, the trigger command is associatedwith an action requested by the user. In such embodiments, when thesystem receives the trigger command from the mobile device application,the system will communicate the appropriate requests to the mobiledevice application. If the mobile device application does not receivethese requests within a designated amount of time, such as five seconds,the mobile device application will display an error message to the userand enable the user to retry the requested action.

In other embodiments, the mobile device application communicates withthe system through a tunnel established over the mobile device's Wi-FInetwork or the mobile device's network connection. In such embodiments,the mobile device application will connect to one or more system serverswhich use websockets secured with a transport layer security protocol.The system server operates with one or more translators, similarly usingwebsockets secured with a transport layer security protocol tocommunicate data to the component of the ticket voucher system.

In certain embodiments which utilize the NFC communication protocoldescribed herein, which utilize the Wi-Fi, cellular and/or Bluetooth™communication protocols described herein and/or which utilize any othercommunication protocol described herein, any action requested by theuser via the mobile device application requires a new engagement betweenthe mobile device and the component of the ticket voucher system, suchas a new tap of the mobile device to designated location(s) of thecomponent of the ticket voucher system. In certain other embodimentswhich utilize the NFC communication protocol described herein, whichutilize the Wi-Fi, cellular and/or Bluetooth™ communication protocolsdescribed herein and/or which utilize any other communication protocoldescribed herein, certain actions requested by the user via the mobiledevice application requires a new engagement between the mobile deviceand the component of the ticket voucher system, such as a new tap of themobile device to designated location(s) of the component of the ticketvoucher system and other actions requested by the user via the mobiledevice application do not require any new engagement between the mobiledevice and the component of the ticket voucher system.

It should be appreciated that while certain data or informationpertaining to one or more of the requested actions are communicatedbetween a component of the ticket voucher system and a mobile device,such data or information may additionally or alternatively becommunicated: (i) between one or more servers and a mobile device viaone or more wireless communication protocols, or (ii) between acomponent of the ticket voucher system and one or more servers via oneor more wireless communication protocols and then from one or moreservers to a mobile device via one or more wireless communicationprotocols.

It should additionally be appreciated that any functionality or processdescribed herein may be implemented via one or more servers, a componentof the ticket voucher system, or a mobile device application. Forexample, while certain data or information described herein is explainedas being communicated from a component of the ticket voucher system to amobile device via one or more wireless communication protocols, suchdata or information may additionally or alternatively be communicatedfrom one or more servers to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols. Accordingly: (i) while certain functions,features or processes are described herein as being performed by acomponent of the ticket voucher system, such functions, features orprocesses may alternatively be performed by one or more servers, or oneor more mobile device applications, (ii) while certain functions,features or processes are described herein as being performed by one ormore mobile device applications, such functions, features or processesmay alternatively be performed by one or more servers, or one or morecomponents of the ticket voucher system, (iii) while certain functions,features or processes are described herein as being performed by one ormore servers, such functions, features or processes may alternatively beperformed by one or more components of the ticket voucher system, or oneor more mobile device applications, and (iv) while certain functions,features or processes are described herein as being performed by one ormore components of the ticket voucher system, such functions, featuresor processes may alternatively be performed by one or more mobile deviceapplications, or one or more servers.

It should be appreciated that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to belimiting of the disclosure. For example, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. In another example, the terms“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof, when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Additionally, a listing ofitems does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusivenor does a listing of items imply that any or all of the items arecollectively exhaustive of anything or in a particular order, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Moreover, as used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It should be further appreciated that headingsof sections provided in this document and the title are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.Furthermore, unless expressly specified otherwise, devices that are incommunication with each other need not be in continuous communicationwith each other and may communicate directly or indirectly through oneor more intermediaries.

Various changes and modifications to the present embodiments describedherein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, adescription of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As such, these changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended technical scope. It istherefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by theappended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A system comprising: aprocessor; and a memory device that stores a plurality of instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: responsiveto an occurrence of a ticket voucher redemption event: determine anamount of funds in association with a redemption of the ticket voucher,and communicate data that results in a modification, based on thedetermined amount of funds, of an available balance associated with adebit card.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined amount offunds comprises an amount of funds associated with the ticket voucherless any fees.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein a first amount of feesare associated with a first identified user and a second, differentamount of fees are associated with a second, different user.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores a plurality offurther instructions that, when executed by the processor responsive tothe occurrence of the ticket voucher redemption event, cause theprocessor to determine the amount of funds in association with theredemption of the ticket voucher responsive to a determination that adebit card limitation on providing funds has not been met.
 5. The systemof claim 4, wherein a first identified user is associated with a firstdebit card limitation on providing funds and a second user is associatedwith a second, different debit card limitation on providing funds. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the debit card comprises a pre-paid debitcard.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the debit card comprises aphysical debit card.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ticketvoucher comprises a virtual ticket voucher.
 9. A system comprising: aprocessor; and a memory device that stores a plurality of instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: responsiveto an occurrence of a ticket voucher redemption event: determine anamount of funds in association with a redemption of the ticket voucher,and communicate data that results in the determined amount of funds tobe associated with a credit card.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein thecredit card comprises a physical credit card.
 11. The system of claim 9,wherein the communicated data is associated with an original credittransaction associated with the credit card.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein the ticket voucher comprises a virtual ticket voucher.
 13. Amethod of operating a system, the method comprising: responsive to anoccurrence of a ticket voucher redemption event: determining, by aprocessor, an amount of funds in association with a redemption of theticket voucher, and communicating data that results in a modification,based on the determined amount of funds, of an available balanceassociated with a debit card.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thedetermined amount of funds comprises an amount of funds associated withthe ticket voucher less any fees.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein afirst amount of fees are associated with a first identified user and asecond, different amount of fees are associated with a second, differentuser.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, responsive to theoccurrence of the ticket voucher redemption event, determining, by theprocessor, the amount of funds in association with the redemption of theticket voucher responsive to a determination that a debit cardlimitation on providing funds has not been met.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein a first identified user is associated with a first debitcard limitation on providing funds and a second user is associated witha second, different debit card limitation on providing funds.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the debit card comprises a pre-paid debitcard.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the debit card comprises aphysical debit card.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the ticketvoucher comprises a virtual ticket voucher.